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Khao Jii Pate on Th Samenthai

Vientiane, Laos - Around Thailand and Laos backpacker-oriented stores carry shirts with the words “Same Same” on the front and “But Different” on the back, a reference to the oft-used Thai saying, for which there is no English word, that two things are similar with slight differences. When I asked some Vientiane boys to explain the difference between bahn mi, the Vietnamese sandwich of pate, herbs and pickled vegetables on a baguette, and khao jii pate, the Laos sandwich, they told me “same same.”

To make khao jii pate, a vendor will lightly grill a baguette, slit it open and spread mayonnaisse, soy sauce, tomato chili sauce and pate, then add 2 kinds ham and headcheese, pickled vegetables, like papapya, onions, cucumbers and carrots, maybe cilantro and/or mint, a scallion and finish with a dash of pepper. Most locals swing by on their motorbikes and ride off with a sandwich in their front basket so it’s hard to distinguish which places are local favorites doing a walk-by. I had three different versions of khao jii pate around Vientiane. The first was a mayonnaise bomb, and the second two were tasty, but not as delicious as some of the bahn mi I’ve had in NYC. This might just have to wait until I get to Vietnam.

Grilling Bread for Khao Jii Pate on Th Samenthai

Another Khao Jii Pate on Th Samenthai

Khao Jii Pate at PVO on Th Fa Ngum

For more pictures, click here.